Mysterious and Medieval "Henry's Castle" in Cumbria Newly Listed
A rare and mysterious late-medieval structure, Henry’s Castle at Underbarrow near Kendal, Cumbria, has been granted Grade II* listing by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England.
The building, located within the Lake District National Park and the English Lake District World Heritage Site, is now nationally recognised, distinguished by its unusual late-medieval design and the mystery surrounding its original purpose.
Thought to date from as early as the 14th or 15th century, it is a small, robust structure of limestone rubble built on a rocky knoll near Tullithwaite Hall.
The Mystery
While it shares some characteristics with bastles, the fortified farmhouses common to the Anglo-Scottish border built by farming families who needed to protect both themselves and their livestock from raiders - it is too small and has walls too thin for this purpose. Henry's Castle location is also too far south of the Anglo-Scottish border region to be classified as a bastle. One suggestion is that it served as a look-out dwelling, possibly with a defensive purpose, but no definitive answer has yet emerged.
A high status building
What is not in doubt is that this was a building of high status for its time and place. The provision of a heated first floor and a projecting garderobe latrine - a small closet built into the wall with a seat over a vertical shaft - are highly unusual features that point to an occupant of high standing.
Later use, naming and restoration
Henry’s Castle evolved over the centuries, with modifications in the 16th or 17th century converting the ground floor to domestic use, including the insertion of timber mullioned windows and a fireplace. By the 19th century it had become a field barn, with timber stalls installed at ground floor level and a hayloft above. Each of these phases has left its mark, and together they tell a rich story of a building adapting to changing needs across half a millennium.
The building's name reflects its more recent history: it is known locally as "Henry's Castle" after Henry Willison, a farmer who owned it. The earliest documentary reference, a Corn Rent Map of 1836, records it within "Stonehouse Field" - a name historically used in parts of Cumbria for a special type of stone structure, hinting at a long-held sense that this was no ordinary building.
After the building fell into disrepair during the 20th century, a programme of restoration was completed in 2025 thanks to funding provided through the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, delivered by Lake District National Park Authority. Works included the repair of the roof structure, masonry stabilisation, and the application of limewash to the external and internal walls, enhancing the building's striking appearance in the Cumbrian landscape.
Henry's Castle is one of those rare buildings that raises more questions than it answers - and this mystery is part of what makes it so compelling. We do not know why it was built or for whom, but the quality of its craftsmanship and the survival of its original features leave us in no doubt that this was a building of real significance. Its listing at Grade II* ensures that this enigmatic structure will be protected and studied for generations to come and the Lake District National Park Authority deserve praise for their sensitive restoration efforts.
We are absolutely delighted that Historic England has recognised the importance of Henry’s Castle by recommending Grade II* listed status. After four years of close work with the site, this is a moment of real pride, particularly for the Lake District National Park, which has played a key role in rescuing and celebrating this special place. Support from the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme has made essential survey and repair work possible, helping to secure the building’s future. Visitors will soon be able to discover its story through new on-site interpretation. Our thanks go to the project team, John Coward Architects, Clach Conservation Engineering, Carr Construction and Greenlane Archaeology, whose careful and thoughtful work has ensured this fascinating building can be enjoyed for years to come
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